A famend developer on X, Ameen Soleimani, has criticized the reluctance of Ethereum to implement the Poseidon precompile. In an replace shared just lately, Soleimani expressed issues over Ethereum’s hesitation to implement this hash operate, which is important for environment friendly zk proofs.
Perception into Poseidon precompile delays
In response to Soleimani, this identical operate has been on different blockchains reminiscent of Solana, Starknet and Stellar since 2020-2022. He criticized the Ethereum group for all the time speaking about “privateness by default” however refusing to make the required technical improve that will assure it.
Soleimani insists that the important thing component, which is the zkEVM characteristic, is lacking, and if circumstances keep that manner, privateness shouldn’t be be really enabled on Ethereum.
eth nerds will make “privateness by default” roadmaps however they will not implement a Poseidon precompile (Poseidon is essentially the most battle-tested of the environment friendly hash algorithms to confirm in a ZK proof)
in the meantime solana, starknet, and stellar all have it… pic.twitter.com/sWj49RWQB7
— Ameen Soleimani (@ameensol) February 27, 2026
The developer claimed that the crew at Starknet tried to supply some degree of help to the Ethereum chain however was waved off. Soleimani insists that Ethereum has a privateness hole and seems to be a name to motion to the Ethereum crew.
He opines that Ethereum must match up with the present zk rollup calls for and enhance its chain. Notably, EIP-5988 has been proposed since 2022 so as to add Poseidon to EVM addresses, however it has not occurred. The event stays stagnant, and it’s inflicting delays to native shielded transfers.
It is very important make clear {that a} “precompile” is a built-in, low-cost operate that might considerably scale back fuel charges on Ethereum. So, Ethereum’s continued use of Poseidon and not using a precompile makes privateness on apps impractical on layer 1.
Soleimani argued that Poseidon is already the “most battle-tested’ hash operate, having fun with utility on zk techniques. Given its reliability, he opined that there isn’t a genuinely acceptable motive to delay the deployment.
He decried Ethereum’s roadmap, which has continued to push privateness to layer 2s as a substitute of layer 1s proudly owning it. Soleimani desires layer 1s to nonetheless have core zk primitives as a result of, with out them, personal transaction prices will stay too costly.
Privateness roadmap guarantees conflict with sluggish implementation
The developer’s arguments have a foundation, contemplating that Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin had, in April 2025, outlined a new roadmap on privateness.
Regardless of guarantees to get critical, implementation stays a problem and has continued to be a matter sparing debates within the area.
Recognizing the cost-prohibitive nature of privateness capabilities on Ethereum, Ernst & Younger’s Paul Brody expressed hope that the blockchain would possibly really act in 2026. Brody acknowledged that he wishes to see privateness implementation turning into mainstream for customers and establishments.
